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January 2015

The independence and the transition to a market economy led to new for Central Asian water and energy problems. A key element in this regard are the projects for the construction of the Rogun HPP in Tajikistan and Kambarata-1 in the Kyrgyz Republic. Both republics are mountain, river and have great hydropower potential. One of the problems is its use in the transit of these rivers: Uzbekistan, located in the lower reaches, is categorically opposed to the two major construction projects. Uzbek political establishment more than a year trying to block the implementation as Rogun and Kambarata projects through various international forums such as the World Water Forum isammity UN. The main arguments are the concerns as seismic destruction of dams and flood Uzbek farmland and towns, as well as the selection and lack of water during the filling of reservoirs, as well as an active winter discharge, which can lead to years of lack of water for irrigation in Uzbekistan. But, apparently, Uzbek diplomacy still not be able to keep the construction of hydropower facilities.

This is a good moment for Georgia to diversify its export markets and improve productivity,” said Antonio Lo Parco, Trade Affairs Attaché at the EU Delegation to Georgia. “There are very good conditions created by the Association Agreement (AA) to do that. In this direction the best thing that the Georgian government can do is to create the conditions for producers to put in place innovative business ideas. The government should first be committed to establishing perfect conditions in the market, which means implementing the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) part of the AA and ensuring fair market competition. All the producers should really have the same conditions. Everyone should have the same rights and the same possibilities. Once all the conditions are in place, new ideas and new partnerships could start in Georgia,” he added.

British Labor Party opposed the bill passed by Parliament on the infrastructure that simplifies the procedure of shale gas by residential areas. As a result, in the UK with a bang sparked debate about the future of shale gas and the country's energy system.

Despite a lot of difficulties and threats, the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project has real prospects to be build, Lecturer in Central Asian Studies at the University of Glasgow (UK) Luca Anceschi believes.

“The blunt reality is that there will be dwindling appetite and patience in the US Congress—and in the American body politic writ large—to expend increasingly precious funds on behalf of nations that are apparently unwilling to devote the necessary resources or make the necessary changes to be serious and capable partners in their own defense.” That’s Secretary of Defense Bob Gates on his way out of office, back in 2011. Secretary of State John Kerry, too, has called on America’s NATO allies to increase their defense spending to the agreed 2 percent of GDP. Here’s the grim picture: apart from the United States, at 4.4 percent, only Britain (2.4 percent), Greece (2.3 percent), and faithful Estonia (2 percent) meet this target. Needless to say, the European NATO members also remain far from “serious and capable partners in their own defense.”

As the situation on the ground quiets down in the wake of the Jan. 24 barrage by Russian-allied forces near the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, Stratfor is continuing the watch initiated by our Red Alert. We believe, at the very least, that Russia is keeping its option to mount an offensive open, and at most, is preparing to launch an offensive to secure its hold on the Crimean Peninsula.

President Barack Obama has arrived in India for a historic visit as the first American leader to attend the country’s Republic Day ceremony. White House officials say the visit, Obama’s second to India, marks a seminal and transformational moment in relations between the two countries.

Senate Speaker of Kazakhstan Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev has received Regional Director of the Joint United Nations Program on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) for Eastern Europe and Central Asia Vinay Saldana in Astana today, the chamber's press service reports.

In response to falling world oil prices, the state owned companies of Kazakhstan, which enter the structure of the National Welfare Fund Samruk-Kazyna will reconsider their plans and forecasts for the future, the Financial Officer - Member of the Board Nurlan Rakhmetov told Trend.

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev held a late night telephone conversation with U.S. President Barack Obama on Jan. 21 at the initiative of the American side, the Akorda presidential residence announced.